Improvement in clamping-chains



vG11. WOOD. Clamping-Chain.

Nb. 218,848. Patented Aug. 26,1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE P. 'WOOD, OF JOHNSTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO EDWARDRICE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPING-CHAINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218, 848, dated August26, 1879; application filed June 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, GEORGE P. WOOD, of thetown of Johnston, in the county of Providence, in the State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in OlampingOhains;and declare the following to be a specification thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a top plan of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an end View.

My invention is adapted for the stretching and carrying of lawns andother textile fabrics as they are passed over a nest of hot pipes orother heating apparatus for the purpose of drying them with a properfinish.

My improvement consists of a clampingframe cast in one piece with alink, the latter so constructed, with a hook engaging with the end barof the next adjoining link, as to be detachable from such adjoining linkwhen brought into a certain relative position thereto.

The cloth to be dried and finished is stretched from the chain on oneside to the chain on the opposite side, and is firmly held by theclamps, which shut tightly upon it. An

- alternate forward and backward motion is communicated to the chains byproper mechanism, the motion of one chain being reciprocal to theopposite chain. Thus, while the cloth is slowly carried forward by thechains, its fibers are subjected to a continual reciprocating motiondiagonally, by means of which each fiber is dried and finishedseparately with a linen finish, instead of adhering to adjacent fibers,as would be the case if the dressing was dried upon them while theyremained in the same relative position to each other.

Clamping-chains hitherto used for this purpose have been made of linksriveted together. They are subject to much wear, because they cannot beoiled, and when, for any reason, it

is necessary to remove a link, the link must be broken, and anothersubstituted with much labor and difficulty.

I construct the link A with parallel side bars, a a, and one end with ahook, I), the form and position of which are shown in Fig. 2, and theopposite end with a round bar, 0, to enter and engage with the hook.This leaves a central opening, within which the gearing or cogs of thedriving-wheel enter to communicate motion to the chain.

From one of the side bars projects the clamping-frame B, cast in onepiece with the link, and supporting a fixed clamping-bar, d, extendingparallel with the side bar, a. A springclamp, G, operated by a properthumb-piece, D, has a limited motion uponv its axle-rod e, which passesthrough the frame B from side to side, and which is surrounded by thespiral spring E, to give the'clamp O a firm bite upon the fixed cla p d.

The links are detachable only when brought into a certain relativeposition to each other, enabling the round bar 0 to be slid out of thehook I).

Being thus detachable, the link is readily repaired or replaced; and asa portion of the end bar, a, is exposed, not being entirely inclosed bythe hook b, it is easily oiled, and friction and wear are prevented.

I am aware that neither the detachable hook-link of a chain nor theclamping device described is separately new; but

I do claim as a new and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent- The combination of the detachable link A, made of the side bars,a a, hook I), and end bar,

c, with the clamping-frame B, provided with the fixed clamping-bar d,the spring-clamp 0,,

axle-rod e, and spring E, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

GEORGE P. WOOD. Witnesses WM. B. W. HALLETT, WARREN R. PERCE-

